In 1987, Gus Glava gave his daughter Donna and son-in-law Bob a pit beef stand as a wedding gift. It was a 12-by-15-foot shack in a parking lot on the east side of Baltimore, and Bob loved to cook, so the logic held. What Gus could not have predicted is that the wedding gift would grow into a Baltimore institution that Guy Fieri would later name his single favorite sandwich in America. Chaps Pit Beef appeared in Season 3, Episode 12 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “In the Family,” which aired June 30, 2008, with Ace of Cakes host Duff Goldman as a guest. Guy called the pit beef his favorite sandwich on the show’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate.” The restaurant has since appeared on Man vs. Food, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, and has been covered by Zagat, the New York Times, Garden and Gun, and Saveur. It now ships nationwide.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Chaps Pit Beef
City: Baltimore, Maryland
Cuisine: BBQ / Pit Beef
DDD Season: 3
DDD Episode: 12
Episode Title: In the Family
Original Air Date: June 30, 2008
Address: 5801 Pulaski Hwy., Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: 410-483-2379
Website: https://chapspitbeef.com/
Status: Open
About Chaps Pit Beef
Pit beef is Baltimore’s answer to barbecue: bottom round or top round dry-rubbed and cooked over a charcoal fire, then sliced thin to order on a Kaiser or potato roll. It is not smoked low and slow in the Southern tradition. It is seared over open charcoal heat, sliced while still warm, and served immediately. The result is something between roast beef and traditional BBQ that is distinctly Baltimore and has no real equivalent anywhere else in the country.
At Chaps, the beef goes back to the pit for a smoky reheat just after slicing, which gives every sandwich a layer of char that most pit beef operations skip. Tiger Sauce — a house-made blend of horseradish and mayonnaise — is the traditional topping alongside sliced white onion. Zagat called it “carnivore heaven.” That’s accurate. The restaurant now has multiple locations and a nationwide shipping program through Goldbelly.
What to Eat at Chaps Pit Beef
The Pit Beef Sandwich is the reason to go, full stop. Order it on a potato roll with Tiger Sauce and white onion. Specify your doneness: rare slices retain the most flavor, and most regulars order rare or medium rare. The Raven is the one-pound sandwich combining pit beef, corned beef, and turkey with American cheese, BBQ sauce, onions, and Tiger Sauce for anyone who wants to go bigger. The Chaps Submarine is the other featured DDD item worth ordering. The Fresh-Cut Fries with malt vinegar are the side that completes the plate.
You can now order Chaps pit beef shipped anywhere in the US through Goldbelly — the Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce is a worthy pairing for your own home pit beef session.
Plan Your Visit
Chaps Pit Beef is open Monday through Sunday 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM. Multiple Baltimore locations. Check the website for the nearest one.
Address: 5801 Pulaski Hwy., Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: 410-483-2379
Website: https://chapspitbeef.com/
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Guy Fieri called this his favorite sandwich in America. Find a Baltimore hotel on Booking.com and stream the In the Family episode on Amazon.
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Chaps Pit Beef appeared in Season 3, Episode 12 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “In the Family,” originally aired June 30, 2008. Guy Fieri named the pit beef sandwich his favorite on Best Thing I Ever Ate.